What grade do I need for a nursing degree place?

Most UK nursing degrees ask for 45 credits at Level 3 with a mix of Distinctions and Merits — typically equivalent to 96–144 UCAS points. Some Russell Group universities ask for higher Distinction profiles. Check the specific entry requirements for each university course.

What are the entry requirements?

You need to be aged 19 or over by the start of the course, hold GCSE Maths and English at grade 4/C (or be willing to take Functional Skills alongside), have basic computer literacy, and be able to commit 10–15 hours of study a week. There is no formal qualification gate.

How long does the course take?

The typical duration is 9 to 12 months studying full-time, or up to 24 months part-time. You can study at your own pace within the maximum enrolment period and submit assignments when you are ready.

No. The Access to HE Diploma is fully portfolio-assessed. You complete written assignments, case studies, reports, and reflective pieces across all 16 units. There are no end-of-course written exams.

How many UCAS points will I get?

You can earn up to 144 UCAS points based on your grade profile across the 45 graded Level 3 credits. A profile of 45 Distinctions converts to 144 points, equivalent to AAA at A-Level.

Lift College courses are self-funded through a monthly subscription. There is no Advanced Learner Loan, no government student finance, and no credit check. You pay monthly while you study and can pause or cancel any time, or pay annually upfront and save 20%. For some qualifications you may be eligible for free or subsidised provision through your local FE college or employer. An adviser can help you check.

What subjects does the nursing pathway cover?

The nursing pathway covers human biology, anatomy and physiology, psychology for healthcare, sociological perspectives on health, communication in healthcare, mental health, evidence-based nursing practice, pharmacology, and law and ethics in healthcare. Each unit links directly to year-one nursing degree content.

Can I study while working full time?

Yes — the course is designed for adults balancing work, family, and study. Most learners commit 10–15 hours a week and complete in 12–18 months. There are no fixed lecture times, so you study around your existing commitments.

What is the difference between Access to HE and A-Levels?

Access to HE Diplomas are designed specifically for adult learners returning to education and lead directly to a degree in a focused subject area. A-Levels are broader and typically taken by 16–18 year olds. Access takes around 12 months; three A-Levels typically take two years.

Access to Higher Education

Access to HE Diploma (Nursing)

Step into a career caring for others when it matters most. The Access to HE Diploma (Nursing) is a Level 3 qualification awarded by OCN London, your accepted route to a UK nursing degree. Studied 100% online over 12 to 18 months, no exams, up to 144 UCAS points.

Add to Basket: From £79.99/mo See pricing

12 to 18 monthsDuration
100% OnlineStudy Method
Up to 144 UCAS ptsPoints Available
Start anytimeStart Date

Accredited qualificationUK awarding body

Start anytimeNo fixed term dates

Tutor supportExpert tutors, 7 days

14-day money backRefund if not loved

This course is for you if…

✓Want to progress to a nursing degree at a UK university
✓Left school without traditional A-Level qualifications
✓Are aged 19 or over and ready to commit
✓Need flexible, self-paced online learning
✓Are passionate about a career in healthcare
✓Want to study around work or family commitments

Your career after this course

✓Apply to nursing degree programmes UK-wide
✓Earn up to 144 UCAS points (equivalent to AAA at A-Level)
✓Pursue a Registered Nurse career on Band 5+
✓Specialise in mental health, paediatric, or district nursing
✓Access NHS Learning Support Fund bursaries
✓Progress to allied health professional degrees

About this qualification

What you'll learn

Picture a busy ward, the rhythm of handovers, the weight of clinical decisions, the moments of human connection that make nursing unlike any other profession. The Access to HE Diploma (Nursing) is the qualification that takes adult returners from where they are now to the start of a nursing degree and a career on the NMC register.

This Level 3 qualification is awarded by OCN London, a QAA-recognised Access Validating Agency. It is specifically for adults aged 19 and over who want to enter a UK nursing degree but do not hold the A level qualifications traditionally required. UK universities, including Russell Group institutions, accept the Access to HE Diploma in place of A levels for nursing degree entry.

Studied 100% online over 12 months, with no exams. The diploma is fully coursework and portfolio assessed, essays, case studies, reflective practice, and a final research project across 16 units covering human biology, anatomy, psychology, sociology, pharmacology, law, and nursing values.

Registered Nurses enter the NHS at Band 5 (£28,407 starting salary) and can progress through specialist nursing, management, and research to Band 8 and consultant roles. NHS nursing bursaries are available to eligible UK learners once you begin your degree.

You will be supported throughout by a dedicated subject tutor with healthcare experience. Every assignment receives written feedback within 2 working days. You can refine and resubmit work to reach the grade you want.

You earn up to 144 UCAS points, equivalent to AAA at A level, which meets the entry requirements for most UK Nursing BSc (Hons) programmes. Most universities ask for between 96 and 144 points depending on the field of nursing and the institution.

Start anytime. Pay £99 a month interest-free over 24 months. If you have the compassion for nursing and the commitment to study, this diploma is the bridge to the career you want.

OCN LondonRQF Level 3UCAS Up to 144100% Online12 to 18 months16 units

Curriculum

What you'll study

All 16 units are mapped to UK university entry requirements and build your academic skills progressively across three levels.

What you'll need

Entry requirements

You need to be aged 18 or over to enrol.

You should have GCSE English and Maths at grade 4 (or C) or above, or be willing to take Functional Skills alongside the Diploma. Universities applying for nursing degrees usually require both before they will confirm a place.

There is no minimum study commitment. As a guide, most learners spend around 10 to 15 hours a week, but you can study more or less based on your own pace and how you feel at the time. The course flexes around your life.

Not sure if you qualify?

Our admissions team can talk you through your options.

Call 0121 329 4656

Assessment

How you're assessed

The qualification is fully portfolio-assessed, there are no traditional written exams. Instead, you complete a mix of essays, case studies, reflective pieces, presentations, and a final extended research project across all 16 units.

Each unit is graded as Pass, Merit, or Distinction, and the credits stack to give you a UCAS point total of up to 144. You will receive marked feedback within 2 working days, with the option to refine and resubmit work to reach the grade you want.

Portfolio-based

Coursework and a written portfolio. No traditional written exams.

Submit online

All assignments submitted through your learner dashboard.

Tutor feedback

Detailed feedback in 3 to 5 working days. Refine and resubmit until you reach the grade you want.

Graded across units

Pass, Merit or Distinction on each unit. Top grades stack to the highest UCAS point total.

Careers

Where this can take you

Typical roles and salary ranges this qualification opens up.

Registered Nurse (Adult)

Typical salary range

£28,407 to £42,618

Care for patients in NHS hospitals and community settings, Band 5 starting salary, with progression to Band 7 specialist nurse.

Mental Health Nurse

Typical salary range

£28,407 to £42,618

Support people experiencing mental health conditions across acute, community, and crisis services.

District Nurse

Typical salary range

£35,392 to £42,618

Deliver complex care to patients in their own homes after a specialist post-registration course.

Paediatric Nurse

Typical salary range

£28,407 to £42,618

Care for babies, children and young people in hospitals, clinics, or community teams.

Healthcare Manager

Typical salary range

£43,742 to £50,056

Lead clinical services and teams as a senior practitioner or service manager.

Midwife

Typical salary range

£28,407 to £42,618

Support women and families through pregnancy, birth, and the early postnatal weeks.

Ready to unlock your university place?

Graduates of this course go on to universities across the UK, including Russell Group institutions. Enrol today and start your journey.

View pricing & enrol

Pricing

Choose your payment plan

Same course, your choice of how to pay.

Pay Monthly

Recurring monthly subscription. Cancel anytime.

£79.99/month

Billed monthly

Full access to all course materials
Dedicated subject tutor
Live and recorded webinars
Certificate on completion
Pay by card, PayPal, Klarna
Spread cost with 0% interest

Add to Basket

Best value

Pay in Full

Recurring annual subscription. Save versus monthly.

£767.90/year

Billed annually

Everything in Pay Monthly
Save 20% on the course price
14-day money-back guarantee
Lock in lifetime materials access
Free downloadable course guide
No further payments

Add to Basket

Everything else

What else you should know

Study support and platform

You get a personal tutor from day one
Log in any time from a phone, tablet or laptop
Marking is done in 3 to 5 working days
Talk to our support team by phone, email or live chat
See your progress and next steps on your dashboard
Join the learner community forum when you want to chat to others

Funding and finance

Pay monthly to spread the cost with no interest
Pay in full and save versus monthly
No credit checks and no contract. Pause or cancel anytime
We can send funding paperwork to your employer if they sponsor you
Our enrolment team will talk you through every option
14 day money back guarantee on every enrolment

Accreditation and recognition

Awarded by a recognised UK awarding body
Regulated by Ofqual, the same standard as college courses
Accepted by UK universities, employers and professional bodies
You get a certificate when you finish
Listed on the Ofqual Register of Regulated Qualifications
Independently quality checked through IQA and EQA

How it works

Start any time. There are no set term dates or cohorts
Study at your own pace around work and family
No exams. You complete coursework, a portfolio and assignments
Resubmit your work at no extra cost to reach the grade you want
Use the optional study planner if you like a bit of structure
How long you study is entirely up to you. Most learners spend a few hours each week, but you can do more or less based on your own pace

What learners say

Trusted by thousands of learners

Real feedback from learners studying with Lift College.

The flexibility was a game changer for me. I studied around my shifts and my tutor was incredibly supportive throughout.

I was nervous about going back to study after 15 years, but the platform is so easy to use and the feedback I got on assignments was genuinely useful.

Got into my first-choice university with a place on a Nursing BSc. The Access to HE Diploma gave me exactly what I needed.

Good value and well structured. I appreciated that I could resubmit work without extra cost — really helped me improve.

Customer service was excellent. Any time I had a question it was answered within hours. Highly recommend.

I needed a qualification that actually meant something to employers. Ofqual regulation was the deciding factor, and it delivered.

Questions

Frequently asked questions

Yes — UK universities accept Access to HE Diplomas studied online in the same way as those studied in college, provided the qualification is awarded by an Ofqual-regulated body and registered on the QAA scheme. Always check individual course entry requirements with the university you plan to apply to.

Related qualifications

Access to HE Diploma (Nursing)

Enrol now£79.99/mo

Access to HE Diploma (Nursing)

This course is for you if…

Your career after this course

What you'll learn

What you'll study

Entry requirements

How you're assessed

Portfolio-based

Submit online

Tutor feedback

Graded across units

Where this can take you

Registered Nurse (Adult)

Mental Health Nurse

District Nurse

Paediatric Nurse

Healthcare Manager

Midwife

Ready to unlock your university place?

Choose your payment plan

Pay Monthly

Pay in Full

What else you should know

Study support and platform

Funding and finance

Accreditation and recognition

How it works

Trusted by thousands of learners

Frequently asked questions

Related qualifications

Access to HE Diploma (Business)

Access to HE Diploma (Criminology)

Access to HE Diploma (Education Professions)